Harry Potter: Dudley From LOTM - 351

Chapter 351: Hagrid’s Class

The afternoon lesson was Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid’s first class as a professor.

Dudley and the other three left the castle early and went to his wooden hut by the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"Oh, I knew you lot would turn up ahead of time," Hagrid boomed when he saw them coming.

"Professor Hagrid, what are we learning in our very first Care of Magical Creatures class?" Hermione asked with a smile.

"Guarantee you will love it," Hagrid said, grinning mysteriously.

"Hagrid, for the first lesson, maybe do not bring out anything too outrageous," Dudley could not help reminding him. "Something normal will do."

When it came to magical creatures, Hagrid’s idea of "harmless" was not the same as everyone else’s. He could happily keep a three‑headed dog, giant spiders, and even a dragon as a pet. Dudley was genuinely worried he would drag out something wildly inappropriate and see the whole class implode on day one.

"Relax. Nothin’ will go wrong," Hagrid said, still full of confidence.

Looking at him, Dudley had the distinct feeling Hagrid was getting carried away again.

Still, this first lesson was right here on the grounds. Even if something unexpected did happen, Dudley would be close enough to help.

After a bit of small talk, the other students began arriving around the hut.

From a distance, Dudley caught sight of Malfoy and his usual entourage.

"Great. Forgot this lot share the class with Slytherin," Ron said sourly when he saw Draco.

Once everyone had gathered, Hagrid stood in the doorway and waved them over.

"Right, everyone here? Follow me. I promise this lesson will be a good one."

"Come on now, keep up," he called, striding off towards the forest with Fang at his heels.

"Is this not the Forbidden Forest? Are we really allowed in?" Neville said nervously.

"It is fine if we have a professor with us. Although..." Harry glanced at Hagrid’s broad back and could not shake a niggling sense of foreboding.

"We are pretty deep in now. What is he planning?" Ron muttered after a while, looking queasy.

His memories of the forest were not exactly pleasant, especially where the Acromantulas were concerned.

"I do not know. He refused to tell me which creature we are learning about. Said it was a surprise," Hermione said helplessly.

"It should be fine. At least, I do not feel any danger," Dudley said.

At his words, Ron and the others relaxed a little. With Dudley there, it was hard to stay truly worried.

Thankfully, Hagrid soon led them out into a clearing and stopped.

"All right, everyone round here, and get out your books. Open ’em to—" Hagrid began loudly.

"How are we supposed to open them?" Malfoy cut in lazily. "I have had enough of this stupid book."

He yanked out his heavily trussed copy of The Monster Book of Monsters and slammed it onto the ground.

"Er..." Hagrid stared at them all in surprise. "No one’s managed to open their book yet?"

Everyone shook their heads, even Hermione.

Without bindings, the books did nothing but snap and lunge for fingers. Even Hermione had not managed to tame hers.

"I opened mine," Dudley said, pulling his copy from his bag.

"Brilliant, Dudley!" Hagrid said, beaming. "Tell everyone how you did it."

At least someone had figured it out.

"I just opened it like this," Dudley said, and flipped the book open in his hands.

In his grip, the volume lay as docile as any Muggle text. In everyone else’s, it had been a snarling menace.

"It bites," Hermione said, still baffled.

"The first time I got it, it did try to bite me," Dudley said. "I warned it once. After that, it behaved."

The first day he received the book, it had almost taken a chunk out of him. Then he let his Judge’s aura roll out, seized it, and forced it open. Since that moment, it had never so much as twitched at him.

The others stared at one another.

Dudley’s method was clearly not going to work for them. Even if they swore they would burn it, the books would still snap at their hands.

"You need to stroke the spine," Hagrid said at last.

They all tried it, and to their amazement, the books settled down at once, pages going limp and quiet.

"This thing really needed a set of instructions," Ron muttered.

"You would have to open it to read them," Harry said, grinning.

"Maybe they should print them on the cover."

While everyone was still chuckling and turning pages, Hagrid put his fingers to his lips and whistled.

A moment later, heavy hoofbeats echoed through the trees.

Whatever was coming was big. Several of the more timid students went pale.

Then the creatures stepped into view.

They had the bodies of horses, but the heads of eagles, with hooked beaks and great wings tucked at their sides.

"Hippogriffs. Beautiful, aren’t they?" Hagrid said proudly, gesturing at the line of creatures.

Dudley raised his brows.

"They are not bad," he admitted.

As far as spectacle went, Hagrid’s first lesson was actually rather impressive.

"I honestly thought he was going to drag us off to study giant spiders," Hermione said, clearly relieved.

"If any of those see us again, they will probably go mad on the spot," Dudley said lightly.

They had slaughtered a fair number of Acromantulas on their last visit. The ones still lurking in the forest were the ones that had escaped their blades.

Hagrid launched into an enthusiastic explanation of hippogriff habits and temperaments.

Dudley’s eyes flickered. With a small movement of his hand, he sealed the space around them, cutting off sound from outside.

"Hermione. We need to talk," he said quietly.

"Now? About what? We are in the middle of class," Hermione said, suddenly tense.

"Class is the only time I see you lately," Dudley said. "Otherwise you vanish before anyone can catch you. Do you deny it?"

"Dudley, I..." Hermione looked torn.

"There are things you chose not to tell me before. That was your right," he said. "But in the situation we are in now, I have to know what is going on. If I do not, I cannot guard against the risks."

"Do you understand what I am saying?"

His tone had gone serious.

Hermione held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded.

"All right," she said softly. "I will tell you. But no one else can know. Absolutely no one."